Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is planning to use the judiciary to undermine the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The politician asked opposition figures to remain vigilant in a bid to thwart the plot.
Abubakar spoke on Thursday night during a visit to the home of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state.
On Thursday, Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to el-Rufai, alleged that security agents attempted to arrest the former governor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as he returned from Cairo, Egypt.
In a post on X, Adekeye claimed operatives approached el-Rufai shortly after he disembarked from his flight on Wednesday, but he declined to accompany them in the absence of a formal invitation.
“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo,” Adekeye wrote.
“Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation. They however snatched his international passport from an aide.”
In his remarks, Abubakar said he has received “credible information” on the APC’s plot.
“Just as they undermined and sabotaged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there are also efforts and plans to undermine the ADC by using the judiciary again,” Abubakar said.
“We must be alert, and we must stand up against that plan to undermine the opposition.
“This is a very, very credible information. So we should all be at alert and make sure that the judiciary is not used to undermine the ADC.
“Just as it has been used to undermine, to destroy the PDP. We must all unite and stand up to all these anti-democratic forces. I thank you very much indeed.”
Abubakar also condemned what he described as an attempt to embarrass el-Rufai.
“By embarrassing you, they are embarrassing the entire political class. We condemn it in totality and we will stand by you,” he said.
Responding, el-Rufai thanked the ex-vice-president for the visit and support.
“You have always shown concern for my personal welfare and for that of our friends and associates,” he said.
“This visit further reinforces the concern that you have consistently shown, for which I will be eternally grateful.
“What happened at the airport today, as you correctly observed, was most unfortunate, totally unnecessary, and probably criminal as well.”
